As Benning remained an un-signed draft pick of the Boston Bruins, he opted to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with his hometown club, the Edmonton Oilers on August 27, 2016.[1]

After attending his first Oilers training camp, he unexpectedly made the Oilers opening night roster for the 2016–17 season. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he was reassigned to make his professional debut with AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. After two games with the Condors, Benning was recalled and made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 1, 2016.[2] He scored his first NHL goal against Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils on January 7, 2017.[3]

Benning was born in St. Albert, Alberta in 1994. Benning is the son of former NHL defenseman Brian Benning, who was born in Edmonton and played for the same AJHL Saints franchise (then located in St. Albert) 27 years before his son, and also featured with the Oilers through his 10-year, 568 game career. His uncle, Jim Benning, played 10 seasons as an NHL defenseman and is the current general manager to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.[4]